It’s no surprise that as Pokémon Go continues to sweep the nation, you’ll see more and more people playing the popular game around Chicago.
Pokémon Go enthusiasts are easy to spot. They’ll have their heads down and phones out, making quick vertical strokes on their screen or even spinning in circles.
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In a recent Twitter poll conducted by RedEye, which gathered 254 votes, 42 percent of Pokémon Go players said they frequently play while commuting. So whether you’re traveling by train, bus, bike or foot while playing, it’s important to keep these do’s and don’ts in mind.
DO: Catch ’em all. I mean, that IS the object of the game, right?
DON’T: Fall on the tracks or wander into traffic because you’re too busy fiddling with your Poké balls. Seriously. Don’t.
DO: Keep your valuables (i.e. YOUR PHONE) and other personal items close to you. Because criminals don’t care what level you’re on—they’ll snatch your shit away if you’re not careful.
DON’T: Block Ventra machines, stairs, sidewalks, platforms, elevators or doors with your inconsiderate game-playing behavior.
DO: Mute the game or use headphones when you’re around other people. Because obviously.
DON’T: Hit on someone just because you happen to have a shared interest in Pokémon Go. We’re all just trying to get where we’re going—free of unwanted attention from strangers if at all possible. (A girl can dream, can’t she?)
DO: Turn off the augmented reality feature in the game when you’re sitting or standing in a crowd of strangers, so you don’t look like a giant creep trying to take pictures of everyone.
DON’T: Be an ass-hat. Period. (If you’ve ever read my column before, you’ll know what that means.)
DO: Have fun and enjoy yourself. Catching Pokémon can certainly energize one of life’s more mundane tasks—commuting to and from work.
Transportation systems around Chicago have certainly noticed this phenomenon, with some even joining the fun.
“Staff has recently noticed that lots of the L stops serve as destinations within the Pokemon Go game (i.e. Poke Stops and/or gyms),” CTA spokeswoman Catherine Hosinski wrote in an email. “We’ve seen people making friends and having fun together at stations and bus stops while waiting for their bus or train as many stations appear to have a Poke Stop or gym directly associated with it, or an art installation at the station.”
Rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft are also aware that more people are trying to catch Pokémon in their drivers’ vehicles.
“We’ve heard from many drivers who have said that they’ve noticed an increase in passengers playing Pokemon Go on their phones in their Lyft rides or requesting to be dropped off near popular Pokemon gyms and hot spots,” Lyft spokeswoman Mary Caroline Pruitt wrote in an email.
Metra spokeswoman Meg Reile, however, expressed concern about riders not playing safely.
“Our primary concern is that people stay safe while playing,” she said. “Have fun, but remember where you are. Don’t be standing or walking down the middle of a railroad track in search of Pokémon. A train may not be able to stop in time, so please don’t get so caught up in the game that you compromise your safety.”
You heard the lady. Be safe!
@RianneCoale | [email protected]
The Transit Diaries runs in RedEye’s print edition every Tuesday on Page 4. If you have a story you’d like to share, email us at [email protected] with “Transit Diaries” in the subject line.
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